Black Taxis

Belfast is better known for its violence between the Catholics and Protestants than anything else.  This is unfortunate because it has a rich history and is surrounded by some beautiful countryside.  The best way to get a tour of the troubled areas is to hire the world-famous Black Taxi.  I don't know how it all got started but apparently, most of the taxi-drivers were born and grew up here in Belfast and saw all the violence between Catholics and Protestants first-hand.  

Six of us from the hostel hired a Black Taxi and we were taken to the area by our driver, Al.  First, we visited the Protestant side and saw many murals on walls that were dedicated to their cause and memorials to those who died in the violence.  A peace wall was built in the 1970s' to separate the two groups.  We then went over to the Catholic side and saw similar messages and murals on the other side.  The conflict goes back several hundred years.  The Protestant side hang flags from the UK, England and Scotland.  The Catholic side hang green, white and orange flags.

The conflict started when the British conquered Ireland and brought protestant British to live in predominantly Catholic Ireland a few hundred years ago.  When Ireland became independent in 1922, six counties in northern Ireland remained under British rule because most of the population were Protestant and wanted to remain with the United Kingdom.  Over time, both sides were unhappy with their situations and violence escalated in the 1970s'.  For more information on the country, you can read more about Northern Ireland in Wikipedia.

Regardless of who is right or wrong, the parents seem to be perpetuating the hatred between the two groups.  Children at a very young age are taught to hate the other side.  Our driver, Al, would not say which side he is on but he feels sad that this violence continues to today.

I asked him when was the last time there was violence.  He said someone planted a bomb on a bridge 5 weeks ago but was found and defused by the British Army.  I think I am getting out of here soon.

Our driver, Al, with his Black Taxi.  It costs 10 pounds each

You can tell this is the protestant side because of the Union Jack

One of the dead from the violence

Protestant stating their cause

The English flag means that this is the Protestant side

Another protestant remembered

A Protestant memorial for those who died in the violence

I signed my petition on the Peace Wall

The peace wall on the Catholic side

Another petition by me

Bombay Street is the scene of violent bombings in the 1970s'

Memorial on the Catholic side

International Peace Wall

This includes oppression in other parts of the world